Cover locking and actuating means for fluid control devices



Nov. 22, 1949 A. K. FOULDS COVER LOCKING AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR FLUID CONTROL DEVICES Filed Sept. 29, 1944 I illll 1 IN VEN TOR.

MKM

Patented Nov. 22, 1949 COVER LOCKING AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR FLUID CONTROL DEVICES Andrew K. Foulds, Grosse Pointe, Mich., assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 29, 1944, Serial No. 556,431

11 Claims.

The invention relates to fluid controlling devices and it has particular relation to a cover for an opening in a fluid conducting connection or casing and a locking means therefor.

According to prior practice, and particularly in connection with oil burning devices, an opening is provided in a fluid conducting connection or casing for receiving a screen adapted to screen oil that flows through the casing. A cover is provided for this opening and when it 1s desired to remove the screen, the cover is removed. In order to prevent the flow of oil through the casing when the cover is removed, a spring pressed valve is provided and this is adapted to be held open by a pin which engages a shoulder on the side wall of the cover. When the cover is applied to the opening, it is first inserted and then turned, and during turning thereof, the shoulder moves the pin so as to open the valve. Conversely, when the cover is removed, it is first turned to allow the valve to close and then it is removed.

In a construction of this character, the cover is usually held in its closing position by some locking means exteriorly of the casing which must be applied after the cover is in place and then removed when the cover is to be removed.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of cover structure which so cooperates with the valve actuating pin that the latter serves to lock the cover in closing position when the cover is turned for the purpose of opening the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character which is so designed that during the final turning of the cover, its engagement with the pin draws the cover into sealing relation with the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of this character which includes two devices operated by the turning movement of the cover so that the latter is locked at opposite sides through balancing forces and is drawn into sealing relation with the casing by such forces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel burning arrangement including motor operated means and an oil feeding system having a fuel passage provided with a cover, wherein when the cover is applied, certain control devices for governing the fuel supply and for governing operation of the motor are simultaneously actuated.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, from the 2 drawing to which it relates and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a casing construction in horizontal section and employing one form of the invention, the casing being shown as associated with a fuel burning system;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1, but with the cover in position on the casing;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view illustrating the cover and actuating pins as isolated from the casing; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed side view illustrating the cover alone as seen when removed from the casing.

Referring to Fig. 1, the system shown includes a fuel tank In, a fuel supply line ll leading therefrom, and a fuel pump [2 operable by a motor l3. The line H is connected to a casing l5 having a valve passage I6 and the latter having a valve seat I! at one end. Beyond the valve seat, the passage is connected by a port Ha to an intersecting opening or chamber It in which a screen 19 is located. Below the screen a passage 22 is provided in the casing and this leads to a conduit connection 23 which in turn may be connected to an oil burner.

The upper end of the opening I8 is adapted to be closed by a cover 26 which, as best shown by Fig. 4, has a plug portion 21 adapted to project downwardly into the opening [8 above the screen and has a rim 28 adapted to rest on an annular shoulder surrounding the opening. A sealing ring may be provided between the rim 28 and the casing so as to assist in sealing the cover in place when it is drawn downwardly against the casing. At opposite sides, the plug 2'! has flats 29 and 30, and these terminate at one end in radial shoulders 3| and 32, respectively. Each shoulder, as best shown by Fig. 4, has a peripherally extending slot 34 and the lower side of this slot is inclined as indicated at 35 so as to provide a, peripherally extending cam surface.

At opposite sides of the opening [8, pins 36 and 31 are slidably mounted in the casing for reciprocatory movement crosswise of the opening and it should be observed that both ends of each pin are slidably mounted in openings in the casing walls so that intermediate portions of the pins are substantially rigid. Collars 38 and 39 are provided on the pins for engaging the shoulders 31 and 32 and when the cover is in its closed position, the pins 36 and 31 extend in generally parallel relation to the flats and 39 and through the slots 34, respectively.

The pin 36 extends into the valve passage 55 and engages one end of a valve 4i) which is normally urged towards engagement with the seat I! by a spring 40a. Hence, when the pin 36 is moved in one direction the valve is opened.

The other pin 31 projects exteriorly of the cask ing and contacts a switch actuating pin 42 forming part of a switch 43. This switch is connected to wires 44 and 45 in the circuit of motor l3 and, if desired, a manually operable switch 46 may also be provided in thiscircuit. A spring 48 is provided at that end of pin 3'! opposite the switch for normally urging the pin against the switch actuating pin 42.

With the cover in the position shown b Fig. 3, the valve is closed, the switch is open, and the slots 34 have been moved out of engagement with the pins 36 and 31. Hence, the cover may be lifted out of the opening l8. When the cover is first applied, it is inserted with the shoulders 3| and 32 in such position that they clear the pins and then upon turning the cover, the pins are received withinthe slots 34 and at the same time the shoulders -31 and 32 engage the collars 38 and 39 so that the pins are moved. This effects movement of the pin 35 to the left to open the valve and movement of the pin 31 to the right to allow the switch 43 to close. It should be understood in this connection that the switch 43 is normally closed by any suitable spring means therein so that when the pin 31 is moved to the right the switch is moved to the closed position. However, When the pin 3i is free to move to the left, the spring 48 is sufficiently strong to overcome the spring in the swi-tchso that the pin'shifts to open the switch. Continued turning of the cover causes the cam surfaces 35 to move more and more along and beneath the pins and this causes the cover to be drawn inwardly into the opening l8 so as to seal the flange or rim 28 against the casing surface and against any sealing ring which may be provided under the rim, This action also locks the cover positivelyin place.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, -a casing having a fluid passage and an access opening leading to the passage, a valve in the casing for controlling the flow of fluid through the passage, a spring normally urging the valve towards closed position, a cover for said opening having a portion projecting thereinto, a pin engageable with and operable to open said valve and reciprocably mounted in the casing for reciprocation across the opening at one side of said cover portion, said pin having an abutment portion positioned in said opening, a shoulder on said cover portion and engageable with said abutment portion to move said pin, said cover portion having a slot extending longitudinally of and for receiving the pin when the cover is turned, the inner sidewall 01- the slot next to the inner end of the cover being inclined relative to the plane of the opening to provide a cam surface engageable with the pin for drawing the cover inwardly in the opening when the cover is turned in one direction.

2. In combination, a casing having an access opening, a cover for closing said opening, a switch having an operating pin and carried by the casing, a longitudinally reciprocal rod in the casing-and engageable with said pin for operating said switch when the rod is moved, cooperable means on the cover and rod for moving said rod to actuate said pin when the cover is placed in closing relation to the opening and turned a predetermined amount, and cam means for looking the cover to said rod during said turning operation.

3. In combination, an oil supplying means including a casing having an oil passage and an "access opening leading to the passage, motor driven oil feeding means forming a part of said means, a valve in the casing for controlling the flow of oil through the passage, a reciprocable pin in the casing andengageable with the valve,

a spring urging the valve towards closed position, a cover for the access opening, means on the cover for moving the pin to open the valve when the cover is placed in closing relation to the opening and turned, control means on the casing and operable to control the motor of said feeding means, and means actuated by said turning of the cover for operating said control means to start the motor.

4. In a liquid feeding apparatus, a casing having aliquid passage and an access opening leading to the passage, a pump for supplying liquid to said passage, a motor for driving said pump, a valve in the casing for controlling the flow of liquid through the passage, a reciprocable pin in the casing and engageable with the valve, a spring urging the valve towards closed position, a cover for the access opening, means on the cover for moving the pin to open the valve when the cover is placed in closing relation to the opening and turned, control means for said motor and supported on the casing, a second reciprocable pin in the casing and adapted to actuate the control means, and means on the cover for moving the second pin when the cover is turned, the ar rangement being such that when the cover is turned to open the valve, the motor is energized.

5. In combination, a casing having a chamber with inlet and outlet passageways and an Open end, a strainer in said chamber and removable through said open end and interposed between said passageways, a valve member controlling flow through said inlet passageway, a pump for supplying liquid to said inlet passageway on the inlet side of said valve member, a motor for driving said pump, a circuit for said motor, a switch controlling said circuit and mounted on said casing, operating means for said valve member and extending into said chamber adjacent one side thereof, operating means for said switch and extending into said chamber adjacent the side thereof opposite said one side, a rotatable cover for closing said open chamber end, means on said cover cooperable'with said switchoperating means and with said valve operating means to lock said cover in closed position as'said cover is rotated in onedirection, meanson said cover cooperable with said switch operating means to actuate said switch to start said motor as said cover is rotated in said one direction, and means on said cover cooperable with said valve operating means to actuate said valve member to open position as said cover is rotated in saidone direction.

6. In combination, acasing having a chamber with inlet and outlet passageways and an open end, a strainer in said chamber and removable through said open end and interposed between said passageways, a pump for supplying liquid through said inlet passageway, a motor for driving said pump, a'switch'controlling the-circuit of said motor and carried by sai'd casing, a rod reciprocal in said chamber and guided in said casing and having an end portion operable to actuate said switch, a rotatable cover for said open chamber end, cooperable means on said cover and said rod and operable upon rotation of said cover to move said rod to close said switch, and means on said cover cooperable with said rod to lock said cover to said casing upon rotation of said cover to close said switch.

7. In combination, a casing having a chamber with inlet and outlet passageways and an open end, a strainer in said chamber and removable through said open end and interposed between said passageways, said inlet passageway containing a valve seat, a valve member reciprocal in said inlet passageway and engageable with said seat, a spring urging said valve member to said seat, a rod reciprocally guided in said casing and having an end portion extending into said inlet passageway and engageable with said valve member to move said valve member to open position against the force of said spring, said rod extending into said chamber and having an abutment means thereon within said chamber, a rotatable cover closing said open chamber end and having a portion extending into said chamber, means on said cover portion engageable with said abutment means and operable upon rotation of said cover to move said rod and open said valve member, and cam means on said cover portion movable into locking engagement with the side of said rod upon rotation of said cover thereby to clamp said cover to said casing.

8. In combination, a casing having an access opening, .a movable cover for said opening, a control device carried by said casing, a movable motion transmitting element carried by said casing and operable on movement to actuate said de vice, a first means on said cover cooperable with said element to move the same to actuate said device upon predetermined movement of said cover in one direction, and a second means on said cover cooperable with said element to lock said cover in position upon predetermined movement of said cover in said one direction.

9. In combination, a casing having an access opening, a rotatable cover for said opening, a control device carried by said casing, a movable motion transmitting element carried by said casing and operable upon movement to actuate said device, a first means on said cover cooperable with said element to move the same to actuate said device upon rotation of said cover in one direction, and a second means on said cover cooperable with said element to lock said cover in position upon rotation of said cover in said one direction.

10. In combination, a casing having a fluid passage and an access opening leading from the passage through a side of the casing, a valve in said casing for controlling the flow of fluid through the passage, a rotatable cover for said access opening, .a movable motion transmitting member carried by said casing and operable upon movement to open and to close said valve, a first means on said cover cooperable with said member to move the same upon predetermined rotation of said cover when said cover is in position closing said access opening, said first means being operable upon a predetermined rotation of said cover in one direction to open said valve, and a second means on said cover cooperable with said member to lock said cover in position upon predetermined rotation of said cover in said one direction while said cover is in said closing position.

11. In combination, a casing having a fluid passage and an access opening thereinto, a valve in the casing for controlling the flow of fluid through said passage, a spring urging said valve toward closed position, a rotatable cover for closing said access opening, a first means including means on said cover and cooperable with said valve when said cover is placed in closed relation to said access opening and rotated in one direction and operable to open said valve against the force of said spring, said first means including a thrust transmitting pin reciprocally mounted in said casing and cooperable with said valve to transmit said valve opening movement thereto, and a second means on said cover cooperable with said pin to assume a locking engagement therewith upon rotation of said cover in said one direction.

ANDREW K. FOULDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 922,657 Worsey May 25, 1909 1,058,737 Elliott Apr. 15, 1913 1,137,075 Morris Apr. 27, 1915 1,220,231 Jack Mar. 27, 1917 1,295,006 Corey Feb. 18, 1919 1,296,695 Prime Mar. 11, 1919 1,407,763 Langston Feb. 28, 1922 1,700,745 Murray et a1 Feb. 5, 1929 1,701,816 Malluk et al Feb. 12, 1928 1,705,254 Jackson Mar. 12, 1929 1,720,380 Schulze July 9, 1929 1,855,414 Otton Apr. 26, 1932 2,082,068 Lewis June 1, 1937 2,134,385 Winslow Oct. 25, 1938 2,210,853 Falkenberg Aug. 6, 1940 2,240,277 Zoder Apr. 29, 1941 2,331,119 Gouldbourn et al. Oct. 5, 1943 2,365,624 Cantello et al Dec. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 541,488 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1941 699,120 France Dec. 8, 1930 

